Ondo State Governor, Olusegun Mimiko, alongside 25 members of the
state House of Assembly, officially defected to the Peoples Democratic
Party (PDP) yesterday.Meanwhile, Vice President Namadi Sambo has assured
the defectors that all the privileges due them had been restored,
adding that the governor’s return was expected to take the PDP to a
higher level in Ondo State in particular and the South-West in general.
In a related development, Senate President, David Mark, who is
also PDP Integration Committee chairman in the South-West, has called on
Mimiko to reconcile everybody in the state as the party would not
tolerate the existence of factions. He added that Mimiko’s defection
should be an added advantage for the party both in the state and the
region.
Deputy National Chairman of PDP, Prince Uche Secondus, who stood in for the National Chairman, Adamu Mua’zu, also assured that there would be a level-playing field for those interested in contesting any position in the state, adding that those who required a waiver would automatically get it.
Mimiko said his decision to return to PDP came after extensive consultations across the land and with major stakeholders in Ondo State endorsing the action as homecoming.
According to him, “I must confess that it surely was tempting and perhaps more fulfilling to continue as a national leader in our smaller, calmer and quite promising ocean represented by the Labour Party (LP). But this decision to return to the PDP, we have taken in the overall interest of our people and our nation, and its democracy which for those who are perceptive enough to notice, is now mortally endangered by a constellation of forces which must be confronted.
“Today, just barely one year into our second term in office, it is obvious that we do not have any office to run for either now or in 2015. Yet, we feel compelled to join hands with the tendency that is aboard today in the PDP, led by a president that is as focused as he is patriotic, a team that has demonstrated so much promise in its commitment to democracy without which the challenges facing our nation cannot be overcome. And as someone who is positioned today by providence to speak for the people of Ondo State and our collaborators and admirers across the nation, I do not have any doubt whatsoever in my mind that the interest of our people in Ondo State, the South-West zone and that of Nigeria too, will be better served in the PDP in the evolving political configuration in our nation.
“Our immediate target is to help the process of getting President Goodluck Jonathan elected. We hope to be part of a process of creating, especially in the South-West, a solid and robust platform of involvement in the election of the president, governors and legislators and post-election governance structure, which will help to engender rapid socio-economic development.
“It is in the light of the foregoing that I, Dr. Olusegun Mimiko, following extensive consultations across the land, today formally announce the decision of members of the National Assembly from the LP in Ondo State, members of the LP in the Ondo State House of Assembly, members of the State Executive Council and indeed all those who share our aspirations, to join the PDP.
“This decision arose after a period of consultation with major stakeholders in Ondo State, which include the aforementioned as well as traditional and religious leaders, market men and women, artisans, trade unions and community as well as party leaders.”
Mimiko went down memory lane, recalling events that led to his leaving PDP in 2006. He, However, said while PDP made noticeable effort to widen the space for internal democracy, the reverse seemed to be the case in the opposition.
Sambo, who represented President Jonathan at the event, directed that a mega rally of the party be organised as soon as possible in Ondo State to enable PDP prove that it was united and would remain so.
Mark, in his remarks, said Mimiko had returned from a self-imposed exile.
“I urge you to reconcile everybody, we don’t want to see factions. We don’t want to see old PDP and Labour Party PDP. Everyone is your child and you must treat him or her as such with open arms,” the Senate president advised.
Deputy National Chairman of PDP, Prince Uche Secondus, who stood in for the National Chairman, Adamu Mua’zu, also assured that there would be a level-playing field for those interested in contesting any position in the state, adding that those who required a waiver would automatically get it.
Mimiko said his decision to return to PDP came after extensive consultations across the land and with major stakeholders in Ondo State endorsing the action as homecoming.
According to him, “I must confess that it surely was tempting and perhaps more fulfilling to continue as a national leader in our smaller, calmer and quite promising ocean represented by the Labour Party (LP). But this decision to return to the PDP, we have taken in the overall interest of our people and our nation, and its democracy which for those who are perceptive enough to notice, is now mortally endangered by a constellation of forces which must be confronted.
“Today, just barely one year into our second term in office, it is obvious that we do not have any office to run for either now or in 2015. Yet, we feel compelled to join hands with the tendency that is aboard today in the PDP, led by a president that is as focused as he is patriotic, a team that has demonstrated so much promise in its commitment to democracy without which the challenges facing our nation cannot be overcome. And as someone who is positioned today by providence to speak for the people of Ondo State and our collaborators and admirers across the nation, I do not have any doubt whatsoever in my mind that the interest of our people in Ondo State, the South-West zone and that of Nigeria too, will be better served in the PDP in the evolving political configuration in our nation.
“Our immediate target is to help the process of getting President Goodluck Jonathan elected. We hope to be part of a process of creating, especially in the South-West, a solid and robust platform of involvement in the election of the president, governors and legislators and post-election governance structure, which will help to engender rapid socio-economic development.
“It is in the light of the foregoing that I, Dr. Olusegun Mimiko, following extensive consultations across the land, today formally announce the decision of members of the National Assembly from the LP in Ondo State, members of the LP in the Ondo State House of Assembly, members of the State Executive Council and indeed all those who share our aspirations, to join the PDP.
“This decision arose after a period of consultation with major stakeholders in Ondo State, which include the aforementioned as well as traditional and religious leaders, market men and women, artisans, trade unions and community as well as party leaders.”
Mimiko went down memory lane, recalling events that led to his leaving PDP in 2006. He, However, said while PDP made noticeable effort to widen the space for internal democracy, the reverse seemed to be the case in the opposition.
Sambo, who represented President Jonathan at the event, directed that a mega rally of the party be organised as soon as possible in Ondo State to enable PDP prove that it was united and would remain so.
Mark, in his remarks, said Mimiko had returned from a self-imposed exile.
“I urge you to reconcile everybody, we don’t want to see factions. We don’t want to see old PDP and Labour Party PDP. Everyone is your child and you must treat him or her as such with open arms,” the Senate president advised.
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Mimiko defects to PDP |
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